Choosing, Matthew 7:13-14

This post concerns choosing to enter the narrow gate rather than the broad gate.

Choosing discusses what Jesus meant by His commands about the two gates, Matthew 7:13-14. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate…wide and the way … easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it…many. For the gate…narrow and the way…hard that leads to life, and those who find it… few.” Note that only two gates exist. We can only choose one or the other.

Jesus finished his sermon in Matthew 7:12. In verses 13-14, He exhorts His listeners to commit to all that comes before in this sermon. Now, He seeks to persuade.

Note that God does not force obedience. That comes from the mind of the disciple. He will either obey or reject what Jesus has said.

Not only does the gate appear narrow, the road beyond comprises a narrow, hard way. But the narrow way leads to an eternity in the new garden of Eden prepared by God for the faithful.

Some things must be left behind when choosing the narrow gate: the willful, selfish, self-serving decisions to mainly please self and the obedience to the temptations and lies provided by the Devil.

But some things remain, Romans 15:13. “May the God of hope fill you with all l joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Joy and peace occupy this gate. The Holy Spirit by His revelation of a Christian’s future reveals a bright, eternal future around God’s throne for those on this narrow road.

Moreover, because of what He has done, a love for God will abound in us as we walk this road, 1 Corinthians 13:13. “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

So, what did we learn?

1.In life, we must choose between two and only two gates: one wide and easy; one narrow and hard.

2.The narrow, hard way provides joy, peace, hope, and love that will spur us on to an eternity with God.

For more on the Bible,

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#theHardWay #theNarrowWay